Bible Strands
1 Samuel 19:5
He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jonathan addresses his father King Saul during a confrontation over David’s fate. He intervenes after Saul’s initial anger but before Saul swears an oath not to kill David.
The words — The phrase וַ/יָּשֶׂם נַפְשׁ/וֹ בְ/כַפּ֜/וֹ (va/yasem nafsho be/kappo) literally renders “and he put his life in his hand.” Jonathan uses this idiom to describe David’s voluntary exposure to mortal danger during the Philistine campaign.
The thread — The text links David’s past deliverance to the LORD’s prior salvation recorded in 1 Samuel 11:13 and 1 Chronicles 11:14. Jonathan’s appeal also mirrors the familial risk motif found in Judges 9:17.
Why it lands — The passage demands a logical evaluation of past divine action against present unjust intent. It requires the reader to recognize that killing an innocent beneficiary of God’s deliverance contradicts the observed facts of Israel’s survival.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 11:13 But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:14 But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
- Judges 9:17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
- 1 Samuel 20:32 “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”
- Matthew 27:4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
- 1 Samuel 28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.
- Psalms 119:109 I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.
- Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- Jeremiah 26:15 But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”
- Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”